Search User Interface Design

Active and Passive Utility of Search Interface Features in Different Information Seeking Task Stages

“…Research into Search User Interfaces (SUIs) [10,24,38] has suggested many different interactive features, from search suggestions [22] to facets [29] to personal spaces to collect useful results [6]. Though their usefulness has been proved in various studies, most of these features have not been adapted in common search engines.…”

“…Given the multitude of features which could potentially be integrated in SUIs, it may be useful to divide the types of features in different groups, based on their functions. Wilson [38] proposed a taxonomy, which distinguishes four groups of interface features. Input features aid users in expressing their needs, control features allow users to restrict or modify their input, informational features provide results or information about results, and personalisable features are tailored to the search experience of a user.…”

“…Summarizing, this section has focused on the active interaction with the system during the experiment. Utilizing the categorizations of Wilson's framework for SUI features [38], the results show various tendencies: input features (the Query Box) and control features (Category Filters, Tag Cloud and Query Suggestions) are clearly used less often in subsequent stages, while the use of the informational (Results list) features remains stable. The results for the personalisable features (Recent Queries and Saved Results) differ.…”

“…features [38], might support users in different ways, both actively and passively. An understanding of the utility of features at different stages may help to overcome the apparent divide between the dynamic stages documented in macro-level information seeking models and the more static SUIs currently available online.…”

A study of visually linked keywords to support exploratory browsing in academic search

“…The success of a search process depends on how well the system supports these search strategies and how well it enables users to understand the impact of what they have done (Belkin et al, 1995). The study of the human element of search highlights the importance of good search interface design (Hearst, 2009; Wilson, 2012). Providing interactivity beyond the traditional “query box and 10 blue links” interface pattern enables searchers to take an active role in the search process (Hoeber, 2008; Ruthven, 2008), which is critical when the information need requires the searcher to do more than just look‐up facts.…”